Winterwatch is return to our screens on Monday 20 January, bringing some much needed joy to this dreary time of year. One of the BBC’s core nature programmes, alongside Springwatch, this year's edition will be presented by Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams.
- When is Winterwatch back on TV?
- Where is Springwatch filmed?
- How is Springwatch filmed? We go behind the scenes
Where is Winterwatch filmed?
This year, Winterwatch will be based in a new location: the National Trust’s Mount Stewart, on the shores of Strangford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Strangford Lough is the UK’s largest sea lough (or lake) and one of Europe’s key wildlife habitats, stretching from Angus Rock at its mouth on the Irish sea, to the vast sand-flats at its northern end 20 miles away, making it the perfect place for Winterwatch to set up camp.
History of Strangford Lough
Strangford Loch and its surroundings are dripping with history dating back thousands of years, when mesolithic hunter gatherers, Vikings and Norman invaders passed through, leaving their mark on the landscape.
Mesolithic shell middens (piles of discarded shells) dating back to 7,000 BC have been discovered in the area, proof that our ancestors made the most of the mussels, oysters, cockles and other shellfish that would have been abundant in the surrounding waters.
One of the most impressive and important historic discoveries in Northern Ireland is the Neolithic log boat at Strangford Lough, discovered at Greyabbey Bay in 2000 by the Centre for Maritime Archaeology as part of a lough-wide survey.
Radiocarbon-dating of the wood revealed the boat to have been built between 3,499 and 3,032 BC, making it over 5,000 years old, the oldest boat in Ireland found in a marine setting.
By the 18th century, the quays around Strangford Lough were bustling with industry, with fishing and boat building being the main trades of the day, as well as the production of ‘kelp’ – the name given to the burned ashes of seaweed. There are still numerous clues to the scale and importance of the kelp industry, including kelp grids, kelp kilns, and help houses.
What wildlife inhabits Strangford Lough?
Strangford Lough is one of only three designated Marine Nature Reserves in the United Kingdom and home to a plethora of wildlife unrivalled in Europe.
Jack Bootle, the BBC's head of specialist factual commissioning, said Mount Stewart was "beautiful and teeming with wildlife", making it the "perfect" location for Winterwatch.
Over 2,000 incredible different types of marine animals including porpoises, seals, and otters can be seen from the shores, as well as red squirrels inland, and more than 80,000 wintering birds at this time of year including knots, redshanks, peregrines and merlins, and the short-eared owl. A majestic humpback whale has even been spotted swimming through the Narrows at Portaferry.
Filming at Strangford Lough
To capture the natural magic of Strangford Lough, live cameras will be set up across the base.
"We know how much BBC audiences will enjoy getting to see more of Mount Stewart and its wildlife," said BBC Northern Ireland's director Adam Smyth.
"We are delighted to be working with BBC Studios and the Natural History Unit in bringing this large-scale BBC outside broadcast to Northern Ireland," he said. "It should be a perfect start to the new television year."
All the other stunning Winterwatch 2026 locations
The Yorkshire Wolds
A region of tranquil, rolling chalk hills in East Yorkshire, England, the Yorkshire Wolds are known for their big skies, historic villages, wide open landscapes, and stunning wildlife.
In winter, temperatures plummet, forcing the vast array of animals that call the Yorkshire Wolds home to do everything they can to survive the harsh elements. One crafty mammal, however, chooses to steal from its neighbours larder and prey on other residents, rather than put in the hard work, and Winterwatch will be following it closely.
Dorset, England
A beech copse is a naturally occurring small cluster of trees perched at the summit of exposed hilltops. Winterwatch will be exploring these perfectly formed ecosystems in Dorset, where they provide a perfect refuge for winter wildlife to refuel and find refuge.
From long tailed tits feeding on invertebrates in the branches, to earthworms monopolising on the leaf litter, which in themselves provide fatty snacks for kites and robins, there’s a whole theatre of wildlife in these small but mighty ecosystems.
Bath, England
The country’s smallest bird should have a tough time handling the harsh realities of winter, however, a park in the city of Bath appears to have everything they need to see them through the season. Goldfinch populations have increased significantly across the UK, having adapted well to urban environments, potentially due to the widespread availability of bird feeders.
Various muddy puddles
In their search for various stranger-than-fiction organisms you’ve probably never heard of, Winterwatch will be visiting various muddy puddles. This might sound like an odd location to shoot, however, these puddles actually contain an incredible variety of microscopic life.
From the barely there eight-legged invertebrates tardigrades, nicknamed ‘water bears’ feeding on fragments of moss, to a remarkable single celled organism called a Stentor, which stretches and squeezes itself through waterlogged soil. If damaged, this alien-like creature can regenerate at speed, and if split in two, two brand new individuals will form.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
The Isle of Mull is rich in wildlife, its rugged coastline and open moorland supporting some of Scotland’s most iconic species. White-tailed and golden eagles are frequently seen circling above the hills, while otters patrol the rocky shores and sea lochs below. Offshore waters are home to dolphins, porpoises, and basking sharks in season, and red deer move through the glens and forests inland. This diversity is sustained by Mull’s varied habitats and relative remoteness, making the island one of the most important and visible strongholds for wildlife in the UK.
Lira Valencia swaps the urban streets of London for the wilderness of Mull to take a look at the behavioural differences that present between urban versus rural populations, and encounters more than she bargained for.
Tŷ Canol National Nature Reserve, Pembrokeshire, Wales
In an ambitious nighttime shoot, camera operator Ben Harris and Winterwatch researcher Seth Daood set out into the vastly diverse Tŷ Canol National Nature Reserve in Pembrokeshire to record the ethereal phenomenon known as bio-fluorescence.
Organisms like fungi, lichens, and even some plants and insects glow intensely under UV light, revealing a glittering world hidden by daylight, a secret layer of ecological communication between organisms.
The challenge for Ben was then to get the perfect shot so we can see these incredible species in a whole new light!
Islay, Scotland
Zoologist Billy Heaney takes us on his annual pilgrimage to the Isle of Islay to see the sensational seasonal geese, sharing why the birds are so important, especially the endangered Greenland white fronted geese, and why this place provides a refuge for both himself and the geese.
Islay is the fifth-largest Scottish island and the eighth-largest island of the British Isles, and is known for many species of animals, especially birds. Red deer, orcas, and minke whales are also commonly spotted.
Mindfulness moments
As viewers have come to appreciate the enchantment of wildlife in winter, each episode will include a moment to simply relax and soak in the beauty of nature. Every night, the programme will dedicate 90 seconds to wildlife, with no music or presenter narration – just the natural sounds and stunning visuals of some of our most remarkable wild places.
Discover more amazing locations in the UK:
